Authored by: Tannis Liviniuk, Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group and Andy Verone, Chief Strategy Officer at Contruent
“Construction is tech-averse.”
“Construction is slow to adopt technology.”
“Construction hates technology.”
These “truths,” which have been circulating for years, couldn’t be further from the actual truth.
Where do these “truths” come from? They stem from the widely held outside perception that the industry hasn’t been quick to dive head-first into all things technology and therefore is lagging woefully behind in tech investment and deployment. Or even afraid of it.
We’ve all heard a version of the old adage that if you repeat something often enough, people assume it to be true. That appears to be what’s happening here because it’s still being perpetuated in online content, at conferences, on social media and even from consulting companies. It doesn’t seem to go away.
This perception—or myth, really—has created a digital divide far removed from reality.
Perception Isn’t Always Reality
So, what is the reality?
Let’s start with this fact: Construction is extraordinarily complex. Project types, requirements, contracts, planning, estimating, scheduling, workflows, data sets, safety protocols, regulations, environmental considerations, stakeholder dynamics—all can be inherently complex.
Here’s another fact: Construction companies are adopting technologies uniquely suited to the industry to solve their pain points—cost overruns, endless delays, workflow inefficiencies and low productivity.
This isn’t as simple as walking into a big box store and purchasing plug-and-play software to use on the next megaproject.
Quite the contrary. Many of the technologies the industry is adopting require significant investment: not just in financial terms but also in the time necessary to explore and procure them and the cultural shift that must happen to make the implementation successful. It can take months, if not years, to go from the initial needs assessment and executive buy-in to researching and adopting their chosen technology solutions.
Because of the industry’s complexity and the investment required, construction companies are intentional and selective in the technologies they implement. The technology has to serve a purpose, and more than that, it has to be the right solution for the pain point or challenge it’s intended to address.
Changing the Perception
The wide range of technologies that construction companies are adopting may surprise those who believe the industry is behind the times.
- Onsite teams are using jobsite tablets to review virtual 3D model updates using building information modeling (BIM) methodology.
- Stakeholders are accessing project performance metrics through online dashboards.
- Construction managers are using predictive analytics to assess the cost impact of specific risks.
- Drones capture images and video to show compliance, monitor safety, and validate progress and quality.
- Robots are performing physically exhausting, repetitive work such as bricklaying.
- Reality capture technology is recording images of an existing structure and then turning them into a virtual 3D model.
- Teams are using augmented reality, via tablets or headsets, to view a superimposed computer-generated image on the physical environment to make design decisions.
Construction teams are embracing technologies that create real value for project teams by helping them do their jobs more efficiently, quickly, safely and collaboratively. These technologies also create value for clients who are better informed and can anticipate better outcomes.
Clearly, construction is not tech-averse. It’s risk-averse and tech-selective.
Consider that one of the goals of every project is to minimize risks. The risk of a project is too great to chase a bells-and-whistles solution that could end up creating more problems without solving the original problem. That’s why their technology choices have to be so purposeful.
A Call to Action
What can be done to bridge the gap in this construction digital divide?
It needs to start with shedding light on how construction embraces—not eschews—technology. The most effective way to counter the perception from the outside is to get the story from those on the inside: the construction companies themselves.
This means sharing their firsthand experiences of how they’re using everything from software to IoT sensors to advanced field technologies.
What was the initial interaction with the technology like? How is it being used at their company? How does it improve how they work? How does it impact project outcomes? What exceeded expectations? What advice would they give others looking to solve similar challenges?
But, let’s also not sugar coat things and be honest with one another. What didn’t go so well but still delivered valuable insights? For instance, engage in conversations with others in the industry around common challenges and pain points. What didn’t work? Were there issues with implementation? How would they change the tech assessment and selection process to land on a solution better suited to their challenges? Are solutions missing key functionalities?
Think of how surfacing these conversations could collectively lead to improvements in tech capabilities to better meet the industry’s needs.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right solution is a process. That process involves finding the right partners that truly understand your challenges, have the technology or service to solve them and want to help you get the most out of it.
Building and maintaining critical facilities is no small undertaking. Making it all happen—safely and within budget and schedule—is what Zachry Group does. As a provider of turnkey engineering, construction, maintenance, turnaround and fabrication services to the energy, chemicals, power, manufacturing, and industrial sectors, Zachry works closely with customers to deliver the best outcomes. Contact them to learn how they can help you.
Contruent understands that companies need a lifecycle cost management solution that is faster to deliver, from procurement through project completion. Contruent Enterprise empowers its customer with credible data, increased collaboration and real-time insights that minimize project risk and maximize project success. Learn more or request a demo.
About the Authors
Tannis Liviniuk, Digital Advancement Executive, Zachry Group
With over 20 years of industry experience, Tannis began her career in the field, spending over a decade accumulating hands-on experience in construction project delivery, planning, and technology implementation.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with some of the largest global facility owners, engineering, and construction organizations, optimizing processes and deploying new technologies. An active advocate for industry advancement, Tannis has shared her expertise as a guest lecturer at the University of Houston and the Construction Industry Institute (CII) at the University of Texas at Austin.
She frequently speaks at industry conferences worldwide on topics such as innovation, Advanced Work Packaging, technology implementation, and fostering opportunities for women in construction.
Andy Verone, Chief Strategy Officer, Contruent
With over 35 years of industry experience, Andy joins Contruent with a strong track record of executing innovative strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and transforming businesses.
With a deep understanding of the customer experience, Andy has worked to accelerate technology adoption and technological growth in every role. Prior to joining Contruent as Chief Strategy Officer, Andy served as Global Vice President at Oracle, overseeing M&A activities, shaping product strategies, and co-founding Oracle’s Vertical Industry labs.
His industry knowledge and breadth of experience across teams will be a critical asset as Contruent grows, innovates, and transforms projects for clients globally.